Local Hobart Cup hope Appmat gets a leg up over interstate raiders

A local hope has drawn an “ideal” barrier for Sunday’s Hobart Cup. SEE THE FIELD

Appmat trainer Brendan McShane and his daughter Lucy McShane with the Hobart Cup at Elwick. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

LOCAL hope Appmat has drawn an “ideal” barrier for Sunday’s Hobart Cup as trainer Brendan McShane strives to keep a throng of talented interstate raiders at bay.

Yesterday’s barrier draw at Elwick delivered good and bad news for the 12 final acceptors for the Group 3 event over 2400m, with Appmat to jump from barrier 10 while interstate invader Taikomochi from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable in Sydney copped the outside gate (12).

MORE: TOP FIELD FOR HOBART CUP

Taikomochi does his best when able to settle in or near the lead but from gate 12, the son of Snitzel might struggle.

The race’s likely leader Kanji drew perfectly in gate three while Tasmania’s best winning hope, Toorak Affair from the Michael Trinder stable, drew fairly in gate eight.

Tasmanian Racing Club Ambassador Alycia Hall holds the Hobart Cup at Elwick. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

McShane has given Appmat an unusual preparation in that he has had only four starts since he tackled last year’s Launceston Cup, and all were outside of Tasmania when in the care of Victorian trainer Allison Bennett.

“I am more than happy with the horse’s condition and demeanour and while bookmakers will

probably have him as one of the outsiders, I rate him a top chance of winning the race,” McShane said.

“The barrier draw was of little consequence but from gate 10 his rider Zac Spain will have

the advantage of being able to go back or forward, depending on how the race pans out in the first 400 metres.

“I have adopted interval training measures at home to ensure his fitness levels for this race are spot-on.

“The Hobart Cup will act as a lead-up to the Adelaide Cup (3200m) run next month and I fully expect him to go into that race a last-start winner.”

MORE: GET THE VINTAGE LOOKS FOR HOBART CUP FASHIONS ON THE FIELD

Morton’s Fork, from Richard Litt’s Warwick Farm stable, is a horse that likes to race handy to the speed so drawing barrier one was a big tick for the Sydneysider.

The Patrick Payne-trained Home by Midnight drew wide in gate nine but that should have little impact on his winning chances as he is a horse that usually gets back in his races.

Home by Midnight hasn’t won in Australia from nine starts but he has won from 1200m to 2500m in New Zealand where he won the Fielding Cup (2100m) before being placed in major cups over 2400m, including the 2018 Group 1 Auckland Cup in which he finished second.

Stream over 50 sports live and any time on your TV or favourite device with KAYO SPORTS. The biggest Aussie sports and the best from overseas. Just $25 a month. No lock-in contract.
Get your 14-day free trial now

The John Blacker-trained mare Glass Warrior drew ideally in gate six.

“The only barrier I didn’t want was gate one, but six is perfect because we can find a position wherever we like in the long run to the first turn,” said the mare’s jockey Siggy Carr.

The first race on the 10-event card will start at 11.50am, with the Hobart Cup to be run as race nine at 4.35pm.